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LAWPRO launch the Community Water Development Fund 2021

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) launched its Community Water Development Fund 2021 on Saturday 28 November at Communities Caring for Water, the annual seminar of the Irish River Trusts and Catchment Community Groups. For 2021, the fund has been increased to €360,000, up from €225,000 in 2020.

The Community Water Development Fund supports communities in progressing water related projects and initiatives, delivering benefits locally whilst also helping to meet the objectives of the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland and the wider EU Water Framework Directive.

This Fund is open to all community and voluntary groups to assist in the protection and management of water quality, both locally and in the wider catchment. This can include the development of a catchment partnership or River/Lake Trust, and delivery of local projects to protect and improve water quality in a local waterbody.

Full details of how to apply are on the LAWPRO website

Types of projects considered for funding will include:

Capital projects such as restoration/habitat conservation/natural flood mitigation measures; fish passage projects; invasive species control, etc.
Projects that promote public awareness/education and events such as biodiversity days, surveys, training workshops, surveys and plans, water conservation initiatives; Citizen Science, etc.
General amenity such as beach clean, improving amenity areas, bird watching facilities, etc.

Grants awarded will be awarded at 3 levels:

from €500 to €5,000;
up to €10,000; and
up to €25,000.

The Community Water Fund will enable communities to get more involved in the management of their local water environment, delivering multiple benefits for present and future generations. The fund is administered by the Local Authority Waters Programme on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

For the 2021 Open Call, LAWPRO ask all applicants to complete the application form online and in conjunction with the Guidelines which you can find on their website.

You must contact your local Community Water Officer in advance of making an application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 7th February 2021 at 12 noon.

Learn more:

Community Water Officer Contact Details

Full details, guidelines and the grant application portal

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.